NEWS ANALYSIS

Africa’s HIV prevention measures are yielding results, with a new UN report revealing that for the first time, most new infections now occur outside the continent. Despite existing gaps, the report offers hope on the path toward 2030 targets. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s prevention measures in the …

How it has upended the US election race and what happens next ANALYSIS | LESTER MUNSON | It is tempting to draw grand conclusions from the July 13 assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. The coarse rhetoric currently in vogue in American politics, not to mention the Capitol riot on …

Experts say that could lead to coups ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | Governments that allocate substantial resources to the military can inadvertently increase the political power of the military. “This will in turn lower both civilian control and oversight and increase the risk of an unconstitutional change of government (coups),”says Nan …

In the face of growing repression, Ugandans continue to find new and creative ways to combat the entrenched system of state capture ANALYSIS | MICHELLE GAVIN | Ugandans have limited options when it comes to holding their political leaders accountable. Elections in the country have grown less and less credible over …

Phytosanitary programme intends to equip all 54 countries with technology and technical capacity ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | Agriculture and its related value chains drive most economies across the continent, contributing about 40%  to Africa’s GDP and 15% of its exports, 75% to its intra-African trade, and 60-80% of employment. But the …

Researchers in Johannesburg turn rhino horns radioactive in a groundbreaking bid to thwart poachers and dismantle illegal wildlife trade networks. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Scientists at South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand are implanting radioactive chips into rhino horns in what promises to disrupt the poaching trade. Embedding …

Michael Atingi-Ego confirms Bank of Uganda has joined “Shining Gold Rush” Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | When the Bank of Uganda announced its intention to purchase gold from artisan, small, medium, and large-scale miners, some players in the precious stones industry wondered why a sudden policy reversal. It has been …

DP World plans to invest US$3 billion in expanding ports across Africa in the next 3 to 5 years – a response to the increasing global demand for Africa’s critical minerals. This surge in investment extends beyond ports, encompassing crucial railway infrastructure that links mines to ports. SPECIAL REPORT | …

Artificial Intelligence is beginning to have a profound impact on the documentation and analysis of indigenous languages, with Google Translate taking on a diversity of African languages and dialects. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | More African languages are finding their way to Google’s online translation service, as the giant search …

Thermonuclear blasts and new species ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | For more than two decades, Elon Musk has focused SpaceX, his rocket company, on his lifelong goal of reaching Mars. Over the past year, he has also ramped up work on what will happen if he gets there. Musk, 53, has directed …